NEEN A e ee er ST RTE TTT "D'Serie WE" emen s 
YAMPAIS INDIANS.—ROUTE TO THE COLORADO. 97 
and explore among the sandstone and granitic mountains, which are smoother and less broken 
into cañons than the volcanic region we have traversed. We therefore grazed the mules, filled 
our canteens, and then followed an Indian trail by a northerly course, up a dry ravine. After 
winding among granitic hills about two miles, we entered a higher step of the valley, which 
looked smooth and nearly level for an immense distance towards the north. But we turned to 
the right around the base of the mountain, and two miles beyond took possession of a grassy 
spot among the cedars for a night's rest. The Indians are still lurking about us. They have 
been seen and tracked to the mountains, where was found a curious sandal, made of willow twigs 
interlaced and bound with sinews. Leroux supposes these Indians to be Yampais, who range to 
$ 
. the junction of Rio Virgen with the Colorado. Towards the northeast are the Cosninos. South 
of them, and to the Gila, the Tontos are supposed to roam. No one that I have seen appears to 
have any very definite idea of these tribes. "There is probably a close affinity between them. 
The weather is spring-like. Vegetation begins to conform to that of Rio Gila. Canotias* 
are mingled with cedars upon the dry arroyos, and mezquites with cotton-wood upon the 
flowing streams. Numerous varieties of caeti also abound, from the huge Echino cactus of 
Wislizenus, to humbler mammillaria. 
January 29.— While at breakfast an Didia whoop was heard, and turning towards the 
hills, we saw two tawny figures looking down upon us. A couple of Mexicans were sent out to 
parley and bring them to camp. Our ambassadors bore a white towel pinned to a ramrod, as a 
flag of truce, but evidently placed less faith in this token than in the pistols which they 
endeavored to conceal beneath their coats. After along series of gesticulations and signs, one 
of the Indians took a firebrand} from behind a bush where it had been concealed, and produced 
a little column of smoke as a signal of peace. Slowly and cautiously the Mexicans continued 
to approach, and were at length received by one of the savages with great dignity. The other 
seemed to be facetious. W ceremony he converted "the towel into a breech-cloth, and 
transferred the ambassador's hat to his own head. We saw from their continued vehement 
gestures that they were not likely to come to camp} so Leroux and myself went to them. The 
Indians oe us by a hands upon their breasts; and saying “Hanna,” * Hanna," 
ted by the the fire which they had kindled: By signs they told how they Si 
watched oia, d us, fearing to approach camp lest we should kill them. They examined 
Leroux pretty closely, and then a caer a the northwest, indicated that they had seen 
him before in that direction. | blushed, but Rostly denied the fact ; at the same 
time pulling his hat over one side of h to conceal a wound they had given him th 
E 
 yearsago. But the subject w: ir anged, and we inquired for the route to the Mojave 
villages. They pointed nearly west, across valleys and over low ridges, toa blue mountain ae 
chain, at whose western base, they said, flowed the Colorado. The distance was from two to three * 
long days! journey for them on foot, reckoned seventy miles; and there were three small springs ` ` 
of water on the way. The return would be more difficult, iid would require at least thr "^ d 
four days of Indian travel. Although, to the base of the far mountain, the country looked mode- | | 
— ee Neuss € pri : 
"Therefore, independent of the want of water for so large a trai 
ll spr gs would seem to imply, it was deemed better to hold 
illiams' fork, and run the risk of increasing the distance. 
nev garding the locality of some of the * 
Cosninos, they said, ; Pai-Utes lived northwest, upon 
side of the Colorado. T siiis: or, as they pronounced it themselves 
* This is the Mexican name of 
